Zoo or False
Encyclopedia
"Zoo or False" is the nineteenth episode of the fifth season of the CBS
situation comedy
How I Met Your Mother
and 107th episode overall. It aired on April 12, 2010. Episode hit season low with 2.8/9 rating and 6.88 million viewers.
) with a gun in Central Park
. Lily is worried, and aided by Robin’s gun-loving nature, expresses her interest to buy a gun for herself. Marshall is frightened by this prospect, and then reveals he hadn’t been mugged; instead, he had visited the Central Park Zoo
, and while standing close to a monkey cage, a monkey had swiped his wallet. The rest of the gang agrees the story is hilarious (with Barney joking the monkey had held Marshall at “gunpoint” with a banana), and Robin asks to interview him for her show. Although Marshall fears embarrassment, he agrees to help boost her show’s ratings. Robin gets the go ahead from her producers, who liked the story so much, they believe his story could gain nationwide attention. Marshall then privately explains to Barney and Ted that the monkey story is false, and that he really had been mugged; he had made up the monkey to calm down Lily and stop her from buying a gun. Ted is unable to determine if Marshall is lying or not, while Marshall is unsure if he can lie about his monkey story on the news show.
Meanwhile Barney is using the story of being mugged to pick up women. He is interrupted by a woman he had earlier convinced he was Neil Armstrong
. He tells an even greater lie in an attempt to get out of it and suggests a threesome. Barney says the threesome was awesome but Marshall and Ted do not believe him, noticing he has been splashed with vodka tonic and even has lime in his hair. Barney continues to believe his own version of events. Barney tells how disappointed he was when he found out the woman he lied to admitted she was not actually 28 but 31 years old, and that people want to believe the lie. Barney explains to Marshall a lie is "just a great story that someone ruined with the truth".
The next morning, Ted brings along a scale model of the Empire State Building
he had been working on; Ted had asked Robin to interview him about it, but she refused, but Ted brings it in case Marshall is unable to talk about the monkey mugging. Marshall is rattled when Robin reveals they had brought the monkey from the zoo as well, and the monkey will be separated from its mate Milly for committing the crime. Marshall finally refuses to talk about it, causing Robin to cut to a commercial and question him as to why. Bombarded with everyone asking him what really happened, Marshall then says “I’m going to bed,” before leaving, with the Future Ted saying they never did find out what really happened. Ted tells Barney he would be better off if he stopped telling lies but Barney replies Ted will someday tell this story and lie to give it a better ending. Robin is forced to interview Ted about his model, but as they are about to start, the monkey breaks free and snags a small doll nearby. It then proceeds to climb to the top of Ted’s model, with the cameraman throwing paper airplanes at the monkey to get it off. Ted is left in disbelief that the ending from King Kong
is being recreated before him, while Future Ted simply states "True story".
rated the episode "Zoo Or False" with a grade B-. Bowman claims that, although the script included many promising comedic elements, they "never seemed to settle into rhythm or find their natural relationship". The genuinely funny elements were overshadowed by a "lack of natural interaction or real emotion", originating with the cast's "unconvincing gales of laughter" at the idea of being mugged by a monkey. That stated, Bowman praised the episode addressing the line between a story and a truthful account, and a number of specific jokes in the episode.
Amanda Sloane Murray of IGN
gave the episode 9 out of 10.
Cindy McLennan of Television Without Pity rated the episode with a grade C+.
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
situation comedy
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother is an American sitcom that premiered on CBS on September 19, 2005, created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays.As a framing device, the main character, Ted Mosby with narration by Bob Saget, in the year 2030 recounts to his son and daughter the events that led to his meeting...
and 107th episode overall. It aired on April 12, 2010. Episode hit season low with 2.8/9 rating and 6.88 million viewers.
Plot
When the gang discovers Marshall doesn’t have any money to pay for the pizza they had ordered, Marshall is forced to reveal that he had been mugged by a man (Jon DoreJon Dore
Jonathan David Dore is a Canadian comedian and actor.-Career:Dore spent three years co-hosting Rogers Television's Daytime. For his work, creativity and quick improv skills, he received the Impression Award for best on-air personality in 2001...
) with a gun in Central Park
Central Park
Central Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
. Lily is worried, and aided by Robin’s gun-loving nature, expresses her interest to buy a gun for herself. Marshall is frightened by this prospect, and then reveals he hadn’t been mugged; instead, he had visited the Central Park Zoo
Central Park Zoo
The Central Park Zoo is a small zoo located in Central Park in New York City. It is part of an integrated system of four zoos and the New York Aquarium managed by the Wildlife Conservation Society , and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums .The zoo began in the 1860s as a...
, and while standing close to a monkey cage, a monkey had swiped his wallet. The rest of the gang agrees the story is hilarious (with Barney joking the monkey had held Marshall at “gunpoint” with a banana), and Robin asks to interview him for her show. Although Marshall fears embarrassment, he agrees to help boost her show’s ratings. Robin gets the go ahead from her producers, who liked the story so much, they believe his story could gain nationwide attention. Marshall then privately explains to Barney and Ted that the monkey story is false, and that he really had been mugged; he had made up the monkey to calm down Lily and stop her from buying a gun. Ted is unable to determine if Marshall is lying or not, while Marshall is unsure if he can lie about his monkey story on the news show.
Meanwhile Barney is using the story of being mugged to pick up women. He is interrupted by a woman he had earlier convinced he was Neil Armstrong
Neil Armstrong
Neil Alden Armstrong is an American former astronaut, test pilot, aerospace engineer, university professor, United States Naval Aviator, and the first person to set foot upon the Moon....
. He tells an even greater lie in an attempt to get out of it and suggests a threesome. Barney says the threesome was awesome but Marshall and Ted do not believe him, noticing he has been splashed with vodka tonic and even has lime in his hair. Barney continues to believe his own version of events. Barney tells how disappointed he was when he found out the woman he lied to admitted she was not actually 28 but 31 years old, and that people want to believe the lie. Barney explains to Marshall a lie is "just a great story that someone ruined with the truth".
The next morning, Ted brings along a scale model of the Empire State Building
Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is a 102-story landmark skyscraper and American cultural icon in New York City at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street. It has a roof height of 1,250 feet , and with its antenna spire included, it stands a total of 1,454 ft high. Its name is derived...
he had been working on; Ted had asked Robin to interview him about it, but she refused, but Ted brings it in case Marshall is unable to talk about the monkey mugging. Marshall is rattled when Robin reveals they had brought the monkey from the zoo as well, and the monkey will be separated from its mate Milly for committing the crime. Marshall finally refuses to talk about it, causing Robin to cut to a commercial and question him as to why. Bombarded with everyone asking him what really happened, Marshall then says “I’m going to bed,” before leaving, with the Future Ted saying they never did find out what really happened. Ted tells Barney he would be better off if he stopped telling lies but Barney replies Ted will someday tell this story and lie to give it a better ending. Robin is forced to interview Ted about his model, but as they are about to start, the monkey breaks free and snags a small doll nearby. It then proceeds to climb to the top of Ted’s model, with the cameraman throwing paper airplanes at the monkey to get it off. Ted is left in disbelief that the ending from King Kong
King Kong (1933 film)
King Kong is a Pre-Code 1933 fantasy monster adventure film co-directed by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, and written by Ruth Rose and James Ashmore Creelman after a story by Cooper and Edgar Wallace. The film tells of a gigantic island-dwelling apeman creature called Kong who dies in...
is being recreated before him, while Future Ted simply states "True story".
Music
- The episode both begins and ends with "Monkey Man" by The Rolling StonesThe Rolling StonesThe Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
.
Continuity
- Barney is seen wearing "the belt," first mentioned on "Third WheelThird Wheel"Third Wheel" is the third episode in the third season of the television series How I Met Your Mother and 47th overall. It originally aired on October 8, 2007.- Plot :...
" as the prize for having a threesomeThreesomeA threesome is a group of three engaged in the same activity. In relation to a sexual activity a threesome refer to the activity involving three people of any gender or sexual orientation...
. - It is shown in "Shelter IslandShelter Island (How I Met Your Mother)"Shelter Island" is the fifth episode in the fourth season of the television series How I Met Your Mother and 69th overall. It originally aired on October 20, 2008.- Plot :...
", that Barney got a threesome, so, in fact, he probably won "the belt" before. - Arthur the Pizza Guy first appeared in "The Rough PatchThe Rough Patch"The Rough Patch" is the seventh episode of the fifth season of the CBS situation comedy How I Met Your Mother and 95th episode overall. It originally aired on November 9, 2009.- Plot :...
," and now he and the rest of the gang are good friends, thanks to Marshall's obsession with pizzaPizzaPizza is an oven-baked, flat, disc-shaped bread typically topped with a tomato sauce, cheese and various toppings.Originating in Italy, from the Neapolitan cuisine, the dish has become popular in many parts of the world. An establishment that makes and sells pizzas is called a "pizzeria"...
. Marshall's pizza obsession includes Arthur's mention of a pizza coupon with Marshall's likeness on it and Ted and Marshall's (and Lily's) road trip to Chicago to Gazola's in "Duel Citizenship." - Marshall and Lily's accidents in the home include a scene from the pilot episode, where Marshall accidentally popped a champagne cork into Lily's eye.
- Barney is known for telling wildly improbable stories that no one believes, ending them with the statement "True story" in the same way Ted ended this story.
- Lily says to Marshall that their credit cards are finally active. This is reference to Lily's shopaholism which was introduced in "I'm Not That GuyI'm Not That Guy"I'm Not That Guy" is the sixth episode in the third season of the television series How I Met Your Mother and fiftieth overall. It originally aired on October 29, 2007.- Plot :...
" episode. - Barney has previously expressed disgust at pursuing women in their early 30s, although he does not mind pursuing older women.
- Marshall quotes facts about monkeys. His fascination with them was first mentioned in "Life Among the GorillasLife Among the Gorillas"Life Among the Gorillas" is the 17th episode in the first season of the television series How I Met Your Mother. It originally aired on March 20, 2006.- Plot :...
" episode.
Cultural references
- Ted acts out Sleepless in SeattleSleepless in SeattleThe film was originally to have been scored by John Barry, but when he was given a list of 20 songs he had to put in the film, he quit.#As Time Goes By - Jimmy Durante #A Kiss to Build a Dream on - Louis Armstrong #Stardust - Nat King Cole...
with miniature figures on his replica of the Empire State BuildingEmpire State BuildingThe Empire State Building is a 102-story landmark skyscraper and American cultural icon in New York City at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street. It has a roof height of 1,250 feet , and with its antenna spire included, it stands a total of 1,454 ft high. Its name is derived...
in his living room. - The end of the episode is a spoofParodyA parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
of the last scene of King KongKing Kong (1933 film)King Kong is a Pre-Code 1933 fantasy monster adventure film co-directed by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, and written by Ruth Rose and James Ashmore Creelman after a story by Cooper and Edgar Wallace. The film tells of a gigantic island-dwelling apeman creature called Kong who dies in...
. - One of Ted's monkey jokes ("Maybe he was just curious...were you wearing a yellow hat?") references to the iconic Curious GeorgeCurious GeorgeCurious George is the protagonist of a series of popular children's books by the same name, written by Hans Augusto Rey and Margret Rey. The books feature a curious brown monkey named George, who is brought from his home in Africa by "The Man with The Yellow Hat" to live with him in a big city.When...
book series. - The woman Barney is hitting on asks if Neil ArmstrongNeil ArmstrongNeil Alden Armstrong is an American former astronaut, test pilot, aerospace engineer, university professor, United States Naval Aviator, and the first person to set foot upon the Moon....
is the cyclist confusing the astronaut with cycling champion Lance ArmstrongLance ArmstrongLance Edward Armstrong is an American former professional road racing cyclist who won the Tour de France a record seven consecutive times, after having survived testicular cancer. He is also the founder and chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation for cancer research and support...
. - Barney is unwilling to believe actor Jack PalanceJack PalanceJack Palance , was an American actor. During half a century of film and television appearances, Palance was nominated for three Academy Awards, all as Best Actor in a Supporting Role, winning in 1991 for his role in City Slickers.-Early life:Palance, one of five children, was born Volodymyr...
is dead. Palance died in 2006. - Marshall jokes he was robbed in 1947 at the corner of AbbottBud AbbottWilliam Alexander "Bud" Abbott was an American actor, producer and comedian. He is best remembered as the straight man of the comedy team of Abbott and Costello, with Lou Costello.-Early life:...
and CostelloLou CostelloLouis Francis "Lou" Costello was an American actor and comedian best known as half of the comedy team of Abbott and Costello, with Bud Abbott...
.
Critical response
Donna Bowman of The A.V. ClubThe A.V. Club
The A.V. Club is an entertainment newspaper and website published by The Onion. Its features include reviews of new films, music, television, books, games and DVDs, as well as interviews and other regular offerings examining both new and classic media and other elements of pop culture. Unlike its...
rated the episode "Zoo Or False" with a grade B-. Bowman claims that, although the script included many promising comedic elements, they "never seemed to settle into rhythm or find their natural relationship". The genuinely funny elements were overshadowed by a "lack of natural interaction or real emotion", originating with the cast's "unconvincing gales of laughter" at the idea of being mugged by a monkey. That stated, Bowman praised the episode addressing the line between a story and a truthful account, and a number of specific jokes in the episode.
Amanda Sloane Murray of IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
gave the episode 9 out of 10.
Cindy McLennan of Television Without Pity rated the episode with a grade C+.